Downward trend question

[deleted678432]

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Hi,
It look's like this semester I am going to be ending with around a 3.6 compared to my 3.84 last semester. While I know that the 3.6 is an exceptional score for a predent, is this downward trend of about 0.2 going to be a problem in admissions? I know that they care a lot about having an upward trend.

 

[pgex2t]

No.

 

[hellofuturedentists]

Yes, a huge problem. You'll never make it. Btw a 3.6 isn't exceptional. It's about average.

 

[Incis0r]

Yes, a huge problem. You'll never make it. Btw a 3.6 isn't exceptional. It's about average.

Harsh.

@spressomfs , I don't think a downward trend is harmful as long as your GPA is still in a decent range. I think a 3.6 is great for many schools.

 

[Jbrowndds]

I wish I had these problems....

 

[hellofuturedentists]

Harsh.

@spressomfs , I don't think a downward trend is harmful as long as your GPA is still in a decent range. I think a 3.6 is great for many schools.

I'd hope you could sense the sarcasm in the first half of that comment 🙂 SDN has left me jaded.
3.6 is about average though. Which isn't bad. Having an average GPA won't hurt you nor help you. It's just there

 

[DentalLonghorn2014]

It is one of MANY factors in your application. You should be okay as long as the rest of your other stuff is good.

 

[Incis0r]

3.6 is about average though. Which isn't bad. Having an average GPA won't hurt you nor help you. It's just there

I have the ADEA guidebook in front of me, and several big name privates are at 3.3-3.4. Even several state schools are at 3.4-3.5.

To me, a 3.6 is a great position to be in.

 

[hellofuturedentists]

I have the ADEA guidebook in front of me, and several big name privates are at 3.3-3.4. Even several state schools are at 3.4-3.5.

To me, a 3.6 is a great position to be in.

I said about average. 3.6 is pretty close to 3.5 and it obviously depends on the school. There's nothing wrong with a 3.6 GPA. I'm sure it wouldn't hold anyone back. However, 3.6 is not an "exceptional score for a pre-dent". You are free to disagree.

 

[deleted678432]

I have the ADEA guidebook in front of me, and several big name privates are at 3.3-3.4. Even several state schools are at 3.4-3.5.

To me, a 3.6 is a great position to be in.

Thanks, I'm sure I'm just exaggerating and freaking myself out. What graduating year are you? I have a feeling we're both '19

 

[deleted678432]

I said about average. 3.6 is pretty close to 3.5 and it obviously depends on the school. There's nothing wrong with a 3.6 GPA. I'm sure it wouldn't hold anyone back. However, 3.6 is not an "exceptional score for a pre-dent". You are free to disagree.

I sensed your sarcasm haha and it was expected, but thank you for letting me know!

 

[Incis0r]

What graduating year are you? I have a feeling we're both '19

 

[deleted678432]

P.S.- thanks for becoming my follower 🙂.

Frank Underwood strikes SDN again

 

[hellofuturedentists]

Thanks, I'm sure I'm just exaggerating and freaking myself out. What graduating year are you? I have a feeling we're both '19

Yes. Your GPA is fine. Trends only matter when they're extreme. a .2 change in GPA for a semester is a fluctuation

 

[DDSHopeful1992]

Nah I think they don't really look at trends. From my own experience they just want a high overall, sgpa and a good dat score with shadowing hours to make sure you know what you're in for. well rounded is a bit, wanna know you can do other things but study as stress relievers. few outlier schools like arizona and one in utah where service and religion are big

 

[htdt]

To be honest, how can one's GPA not going down as one take upper level classes? I remember how easy Gen Chem was compared to my Physical Chem classes, even though it's essentially the same topic. Needless to say, my GPA drops from a 4.0 at the end of freshman to a 3.6 by the time I graduate... I'm not worried whatsoever!


Sent from my iPhone using SDN mobile app

 

[ncide]

To be honest, how can one's GPA not going down as one take upper level classes? I remember how easy Gen Chem was compared to my Physical Chem classes, even though it's essentially the same topic. Needless to say, my GPA drops from a 4.0 at the end of freshman to a 3.6 by the time I graduate... I'm not worried whatsoever!


Sent from my iPhone using SDN mobile app

The general sciences at UW were weed out courses meant to thin the herd, the upper level science courses were significantly easier. I think it just depends on the school.

 

[super frank]

To be honest, how can one's GPA not going down as one take upper level classes? I remember how easy Gen Chem was compared to my Physical Chem classes, even though it's essentially the same topic. Needless to say, my GPA drops from a 4.0 at the end of freshman to a 3.6 by the time I graduate... I'm not worried whatsoever!


Sent from my iPhone using SDN mobile app

This cracks me up, as I was the complete opposite. As @ncide said, many of the intro courses at my university were weed-outs. Combine that with my naive freshman attitude and you don't do as hot your first two years as you hope. However, my last two years I was taking three/four challenging upper-electives per semester and have a 4.0 since then.... so....